Concussion Checklist for Nonverbal Students?

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

Hello all! Long time, no chat!

I was wondering if any of you have or know of a good resource for assessing for concussion in our special education population? I'm specifically thinking of our nonverbal or cognitively delayed kiddos who can't tell me that their head hurts or they feel funny. I have Googled this question but am coming up empty handed. The closest I could find was a hospital list of nonverbal signs of a possible concussion in toddlers including: listlessness or tiring easily, irritability or crankiness, changes in sleeping or eating patterns, lack of interest in the child's favorite toys, and unsteady walking or a loss of balance.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

It can be hard and I'm still trying to figure this out, to be honest. For me, I talk with the student's para to see if any of their behavioral is a-typical for them currently as this is often an indicator that a student isn't feeling well. Increased frustration, for example, that doesn't appear to be triggered by any of student's typical triggers. Light sensitivity indicated by student squinting or wanting to cover their eyes as well is a tool I've used.

I don't use a specific screening tool, however, just the above combined with some of toddler list.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

We typically fill out the Concussion Signs and Symptoms Checklist from the CDC but we're revamping our concussion procedure this year. We have created a flow chart to help our health office staff figure out when the 30 minutes of observation is necessary and when it isn't. Right now they feel like they must do it for. every. single. head bump. including those not at all likely to cause a concussion like being hit with a library book or hit in the head with a pencil (true stories, by the way). Our goal is to not have kids missing 30 minutes of class if they don't need to. Sometimes, especially during recess, our nurses will have 5 or more kids sitting there being observed for 30 minutes.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

We typically fill out the Concussion Signs and Symptoms Checklist from the CDC but we're revamping our concussion procedure this year. We have created a flow chart to help our health office staff figure out when the 30 minutes of observation is necessary and when it isn't. Right now they feel like they must do it for. every. single. head bump. including those not at all likely to cause a concussion like being hit with a library book or hit in the head with a pencil (true stories, by the way). Our goal is to not have kids missing 30 minutes of class if they don't need to. Sometimes, especially during recess, our nurses will have 5 or more kids sitting there being observed for 30 minutes.

Yeah, that is not productive at all! I really pull out the CDC paperwork for more severe bumps and hits, often that occur during gym vs. classroom. I get a lot of MS students that report accidentally hitting their head on the desk, walk into my office reporting a headache while chatting and touching several things in my office. I let those student sit for 5 minutes and if their chatting and normal behavior continues, they go back to class. No CDC sheet and sometimes not even a call home unless there is a viable mark.